Apparatus for processing surfaces of tubular articles such as steel drums and the like



s. s. JOHNS ETAL 2,613,634 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSINQSURFACES OF TUBULAR ARTICLES SUCH AS STEEL DRUMS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 14, 1952 INVENTOR5 STAN UZY S. JOHNS O4 WILLIAM FUNK BY W AA/MW ATTORNEYS Oct. 14, 1952 s. s. JOHNS ETAL 2,613,634

' APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SURFACES OF TUBULAR ARTICLES SUCH AS STEEL DRUMS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 03 0K0 9 :9 I 9! 6 i INVENTOR STANLEY S- JOHNS WILLIAM FUNK ATTORNEY lil 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 1952 s. s. JOHNS ETAL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SURFACES OF TUBULAR ARTICLES SUCH AS STEEL. DRUMS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 STANLEY S JOHNS WILLIAM FUNK ATTORNEYS m om. NQ mm 9N Na mm. 7 qo w N Q9 f y qm. m V mr m w. QM dz llll l lllll IJ flfi wmm v u Tm om V mww |||l 4N finwnmm mwm n n m JQMKWAJ. 6m. @9

Oct. 14, 1952 s. s. JOHNS ETAL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SURFACES OF TUBULAR ARTICLES SUCH AS STEEL DRUMS AND THE LIKE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 29, 1950 1N VENTOR STANLEY s. JOHNS WILLIAM FUNK ATTORNEY JOHNS ET AL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SURFACES OF-TUBULAR 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 14, 1952 ARTICLES SUCH AS STEEL DRUMS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 INVENTOR STANLEY S. JOHNS WILLIAM FUNK ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1952 s 5 JQHN$ ET AL 2,613,634

APPARATUS F OR PROCESSING SURFACES OF TUBULAR ARTICLES SUCH AS STEEL DRUMS AND THE LIKE. Filed Sept. 29, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. STANLEY S. JOHNS WILLJAM FUNK BY W 5 "Mad/ 4 ATTORN EYS S. S. JOHNS ETAL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SURFACES OF TUBULAR Oct. 14, 1952 ARTICLES SUCH AS STEEL DRUMS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 STANLEY S- JOHNS WILLIAM FUNK BYM WM MM ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1952 ARTICLES SUCH AS STEEL DRUMS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 \;J] llllll'll l llfll L y I 4 434 I r 36 626 H 622 I I 1 l IIIIIHH INVENTOR STANLEY S- JOHNS WILLIAM FUNK ATTORNEY 1952 s. s. JOHNS ETAL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SURFACES OF TUBULAR ARTICLES SUCH AS STEEL DRUMS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR STANLEY s. JOHNS WILLIAM FUNK BY MW, M

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SURFACES OF TUBULAR ARTICLES SUCH AS STEEL DRUMS AND THE LIKE Stanley S. Johns, Baltimore, Md, and William Funk, Houston, Tex., assignors to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Richmond, Calif., a. corporation of California Application September 29, 1950, Serial No..187,572

Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for processing manufacturedarticles in conjunction with conveyor systems.

The invention will be described in its application to the processing or containers and primarily with respect to the finishing and/or coating of the peripheral surfaces of cylindrical steel drums. This mode of description willmost readily lend the invention to clear understanding and the many other objects which may be similarly processed will be immediately apparent.

By the invention containers which may be moving along a continuous conveyor line are lifted from the line and engaged with apparatus which rotates the containers for a time period during which processing device mounted adjacent the periphery perform operations about the circumference of the containers.

It is a primary object of our invention. to provide a method and apparatus of processing objects, suchas containers, while these objects are in general motion along conveyor systems.

It is a further object of our invention to provide means for automatically removing objects from a conveyor system at a predetermined point to permit processing operations thereon.

It is a further object of our invention to provide means for automatically rotating a container or like object adjacent processing devices for a predetermined cycle of operation.

It is a further object of our invention to provide means for automatically removing objects such as containers from a continuously moving conveyor adjacent a processing device for a predetermined cycle of operation.

It is a further object of our invention to provide means for automatically cleaning andcoating the upper and lower chimes of steel drums and applying a coating of wax to the beads of such drums.

Further objects and the entire scope of the invention will be further apparent from the following detailed description and from the ap pended claims. It is to be understood that this detailed description is meant only for purpose of illustrating and is not intended to limit our invention.

A complete understanding of the invention may be best had with reference to the accompanying drawings in connection with the written description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an end view of the general arrangement of our invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 with the central portion. of the upright structure cut away.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the line l-t of'Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of operating mechanism included in our. invention.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 shows the structure of Figure 6 in another position.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional View taken along the line 83 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a general side View of the apparatus" comprising theupper portion of Figures 1-3;

Figure 10 is-another side view of the apparatus of Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows a clutch incorporated in the apparatus of Figures 9 and 10.

Referring now'to Figures 1 and 2, containers or other objects indicated as ill are placed upon a conveyor arrangement indicated generally as i2 and are moved thereon until they arrive. within a processing apparatus indicated generally as 15. Upon arrival at the apparatus M the drum is lifted by action of a platform arrange.- ment indicated generally as it until theupper end of the drum engages a preferably continuously rotating head structure indicated generally as 18. The lifting of the drum into engagement with the head it is also arranged to place in operation a control unit indicated generally as 25), this control unit causing (in the illustrated embodiment) wire brush wheels 22 and 24 to be applied to the upper and lowerchimes of the drum, and alsocauses an application of a spray of wax or the like through spray units indicated generally as 2991 It. will be understood that the wire-wheels or the; sprays: can be operated at any position on the surface of the drum, including the inner chime surfaces.

After a predetermined number" of revolutions of the drum have occurred, means associated withthe' control unit 20 will cause the platform arrangement it to return the drum to the conveyor system it, and after the drum has moved away the apparatus will be ready to receive the next drum which appears on the conveyor;

It will be understood that external conveyor sections may supply andremove objects from the abovementioned conveyor 12, or, in fact, the con-- veyor [2 may be a continuous system of ample length.

The details of the construction of the components of the illustrated apparatus will now be described in greater detail. With additional reference to- Figures 3-5 the apparatus is generally mounted upon twoside rails HM and me. These side rails are suitably supported from the floor by uprights ltd. Extending between rails Hi! and HIE-"at the. ends thereof are conveyor axles lllfi. and! ()8, these axles being: mounted for rotation in suitable bearings on the side rails IM and I02. Chain sprockets II are keyed to the axles I06 and I08 and spaced apart sufficient distance to permit the conveyor chains H2 running thereon to form suitable supports for the drums as they proceed along the system. The chains H2 are arranged to ride in channels H4 so that the chains will not sag under the weight of the drums. The drums are further guided by L-shaped rails H6 to prevent their sidewise movement. The axles I06 and I08 are further provided with rollers H8 keyed thereto, which are located adjacent the sprockets H0 and adjacent the rails H6. These rollers serve the purpose of aiding the drums in becoming positioned on the conveyor chains I I 2.

The conveyor system as thus far described is then arranged to be driven by an electric motor I through reduction gearing I22 and drive chain I24. Chain I24 drives the drive sprocket I26, which is keyed to the axle I06. Idler sprockets I28 ar rigidly mounted to the frame comprising the side rails IOI and I02 and are mounted beneath these rails. This arrangement serves the purpose of providing a return path for the conveyor chains I I2 and at the same time keeping these chains clear of the platform operating apparatus, which will be described more fully below.

The platform apparatus I6 previously mentioned will now be described in detail. This apparatus comprises a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 2I0, which is fixedly mounted upon a transverse support member 2 I 2, which extends between and is mounted from the side rails NH and I02. The piston rod 2I4 which extends from the unit 2I0 is connected to a circular platform 2I6, this platform having four uprights 2I8 attached at its circumference. The upper end of each of the uprights is bent outwardly to form inclined faces 220 and upon these inclined faces are mounted flanged rollers 222. The layout of these rollers is determined by the diameter of the drums to be processed and is such that when the unit 2I0 is actuated to drive the platform 2I6 upwardly the flanges of the rollers will engage the lower rim of the drum, thus lifting the drum from the conveyor chains I I2 and also permitting the drum to then be rotated. As has been previously indicated rotation of the drum will occur when it is lifted sufliciently to have the head arrangement l8 engage the upper end of the drum.

While it is clearly possible that the conveyor chains I I 2 could be stopped at the moment necessary to place a drum directly above the rollers 220, it is also possible and preferable to keep the conveyor in motion and to otherwise raise the platform 2I6- and rollers 220 at the proper moment to engage the drum. Apparatus for carrylng out this function will now be explained in detail. Referring primarily to Figure 4, as the drums move in from the left-hand side, the lower outside edge of the drum will engage a detector arm 3| 0. This detector arm forms a part of a detector hub 3I2, which comprises an upwardly extending portion 3I4. The hub (H2 is keyed to a rocker shaft 3I6, and this shaft is mounted in suitable bearings on the side rail I02. When a drum engages the detector arm 3I0 the result is that shaft 3| 6 is rotated clockwise (looking left to right Figure 4), and a latch arm 3I8 keyed to the other end of shaft 3| 6 permits a transverse shaft 320 to rotate under the action of a tension spring 322. The detector arm 3I0 is normally tioned detector arm held in position to engage the drums by reason of compression spring 324, acting between the latch arm 3 I8 and the side rail I 02. A more complete understanding of the latch arm arrangement may be had with reference to Figure 8. It will be apparent from this showing that as latch arm 3I8 is rotated counterclockwise (Figure 8) by action of the detector arm 3 I 0 th spring 324 will yield, and the arm 3I8 will become disengaged with the shoulder 326. The shoulder 326 is integral with hub 328, the latter being keyed to the transverse shaft 320. A tension spring 330 acting between the hub 328 and the mounting member 332 extending from the rail I62, will then cause shaft 320 to turn clockwise.

Two stop rods 336 are fixedly mounted on transverse shaft 320 at spaced points along the shaft 320, and when the latter is rotated under the action of spring 330, the upturned ends 333 of the stop rods 336 extend into the path of the oncoming drums. This may be clearly understood from the showing in Figure 3. As thus far described it will now be apparent that the drums proceeding along the conveyor I2 will first engage the detector arm 3I0 to cause the shaft 320 to rotate and place the stop rods 336 in the path of the drum. The drum continues its movement until it arrives at the ends 338, where it stops, and if nothing else were done would permit the chains H2 to slide in relation to thedrums. The transverse shaft 320, however, also has mounted thereon a trigger enabling arm 340. This arm is keyed to the shaft 320 and rotates in the same manner as do the stop rods 336. The outermost end of the enabling arm 340 is provided with a lug 342 having an aperture therethrough. A trigger rod 344 rides loose in the aperture of the lug 342 and extends at one end to a limit switch 346 and at its other end to an upturned trigger 348. This trigger end 348 thus moves upward with the rods 336 when the shaft 320 is operated and also assumes a position in the path of the oncoming drums. As shown in Figure 4 the trigger end 348 is slightly in advance of the stop rod ends 338 (in relation to the contour of the drum) and therefore the trigger rod 334 is reciprocated through the aperture in lug 342 until the drum comes in contact with the stop rod ends 338. The movement of the trigger rod 334 actuates the limit switch 346 to actuate the piston-cylinder unit 2I0 to raise the platform 2I6. The energizing of the unit 2I0 by the switch 346 may be by any convenient electrically operated valve means, for example, and it is believed unnecessary to show these details. It will thus be apparent that in actual operation the trigger rod 344 will cause the drum to be lifted by the platform 2I6 practically simultaneously with the engagement of the drums with the stop rods 336.

The platform 2I6 is interconnected with the shaft 320 in such manner that the latch 3I8 will be reset as the platform rises. This action is provided for by means of a connecting rod 350 (Figure 5) pivotally connected at one end by pin 352 to the platform 2 I6 and at its other end sliding in an aperture in a lug 354, which extends from a hub 356 keyed to the shaft 320. The connecting rod 350 is also equipped with adjustable stop means 358 located on the connecting rod adjacent the lug 354. Since the previously men 3I0 is located in advance of the final stop point of the drums, this arm will be clear to return to its engageable position when the drum is stopped. This can be appreciatedv from the showing in Figure 4. Therefore, with mama's-a the stop; 3 58on rod; 3501-. set" to alinostr engagathe 1ug'354 when' theshaft 320 is in its unlatchedpo' sition, as" the platform 2-] 6 is: raised by: theunit; 210, the step 358 willengagethe: lug 354 and cause the shaft 32.6 to be: rotated counter:-clock.-' wise (Figurefi); This a'ctioniwill iraisethe shoulder 326 andpermit thelatch arm M6 to again assume the latched positionw under the actionof spring 324". The stop: rods 336 and. the trigger 334 a1e accordingly reset; andvwhen the drum is: subsequently lowered to theiconveyor, the drum will" proceed down theline without interference; with the said stop 'and' trigger rodsand also? will. not again actuate the detector'armfill'. Thearrangement will furthermcreh resets and'ready to receive-the-next 'drum which comes al'ong'the line.

The control unit-2!! employed to automatically establisha processing cycle will now-be explained in detaili The rotating head'struct'ure indicated generally'as l'8consists of a round disk. member all), which is of proper sizetc fit well within the upper'chi'me; ofthe container 16' and" is equipped. with lugs 4'12 spacedabou-t the outer edge of the disk, these lugs being fastened in over-hanging relation whereby the lugs'abear llpOIl'.thEY upper edge of the drum chime andlprovide frictional engagement between the head and. the drum. The disk Mllis mountecl onan axle M4; by. means ofa flange hub member 416?; The axle 4 l4 is set in suitable bearingstla and: 42-0 which are'in' turnmounted on suitableframework; which extends upward from the rails 1 I01 and I62. A motor 422 is also mounted' upon the: framework and" is equipped with an: upper drive pulley 426. The motor 422": d'rives' the axle tl lrby means of'a' pulley 428- mounted on the axle M4; the drive. being through a suitable belt 4 301 Also mounted on' the axle 414dmmediately be low the pulley 428 is a chain; sprocket 432,.this chain sprocket'b'eing: arranged to. drive the input shaft 434 of 0nerevolution clutch indicated generally as itfi; Theme-revolution clutch may be best understoc'd' from Figure: 1.1;.which is a viewtaken along linetil-i of'Figure 9. The

shaft, 434: drives a: ratchet: whee-l- 4558; which. in turn: drives a clutch. plate: M0: by" means of a ratchet: pawl 442-. This pawvl. is pivotally mounted at 443 on thei'disk MIL-and is normally biased intoengagementwith the ratchet 43llibyl means-of compression spring 4.441 Spring 44 4 acts between the pawl 442 and a post 446 mounted=onthedish 44-6.

To? provide "one revolution operation the. pawl 4421s provided with a latch shoulder; 448', this shoulden cooperating withalatch arm 456 pivotally mounted l at pin 452 l to; the' framework of the apparatus. The latch arm'45ll is: operated-from latched to unlatched position byv means of asolenoid'454, the solenoidtogetherrwith the-latch arm 45.6 being normally biasedcinto engagementwith pawl shoulder; 44%: bymean-s of a compression spring;- 456; actingbetweenrthe-arm 450 and a suitable fixed. support. To prevent backlashiof the structure. (to be; describediassociated with the disk:440ca second pawl 458 is provided to cooperatezwithaa detent466: in the: disk 446. This pawl is normally biased into engagement with the disk 44!] by means. ofa compression spring 462 acting between the pawl. andlalsuitablerfixedsupport.

The driven clutch:.di'sk'440.1isslseyediito. a cam: shaft 464, this shaft being mounted in; a suitable bearing- 4'66 zit-its: lower endvand' at its upper end having' a stud: riding in; a socket in; the driving shaitalul Thiscam; shaftimay; carry/w. plurality;-

less, the. cams; to. be employed; in: the particular embodiment which wezhave. illustratedrwill bode:-

scribed'in some detail.

Cam. 51.0- is; arranged. to; operate a 1imit:swltc 5:12; thisicanr and switchhein'gadapted to auto;-

matically'control the-loweringcf the containers from; engagement: withthe head: assembly [8. It:

will). be recalled 1 that: when theitriggerzrnd. 344 isoperated by the arrivalof the container on;.the:v

conveyor; l2: the. limit switch 346i will. operate through: asuitable; solenoid; valv to actuate the;

lift; unit 210. to raise. the container; and asthe containeris: being." raised 1 the connecting 'rod 350 serves it to; reset; the: transverse shaft: 326. to its: latched position. The-hub: 3.5 6', whichis keyed Ito" thexshaft 320,.is equippedwith an extendingarm. 5 I 4- (Figure G andx. '7')., .which1.is.' adapted to operate aswitch 516 tdmoment'arily energize the solenoid 4514to. initiate a revolutionioflthezclutch 436. The

actionis as. follows: When. a container approach-- ingon the conveyor l2.operates the detector arm 3") to unlatchthe' latchrarmlifl and permit the shaft 320 to turn clockwise (Figure 6) to set the stop arms 336 etc. a; yieldable nose 518 pivotally mountedzon'. the. arm.5l.4 at'520: engages but does' not movetheoperating'arm 522 of'theswitch 5 I 6.

. Theaswitch 5l6' is normally-open with the operat-- ing .arm 522: resting against an. abutment 524, whichpprevents' the operation ofthe switch un der. the actioncfthe nose 518. The nose 518' is arranged toxbe: normally biasedagainst an abutment526 byreason of a tensionlspring'528.

Whenthe lift: unit 2| 0 is energized, however; anclxthe connecting rod 356 serves to rotatethe hub 356 counter-clockwise (Figures 6 and 7) the nose 51.8 on the arm 514 will' positively engage the'operating arm 522 and, because of'the-abutment: 526, will rotate the switch operating arm 522a shortdistance clockwise as viewed in Figure; '7. This'clockwise movement will momentarily-close the switch 5| 6 and a suitable circuit extending to the solenoid 454wil1 caus the latch 4:48. to releaseandt the-pawl accordingly will engage. the ratchet 438 under the action of spring 444: Since the shaft 436 isbeing continuously driven by the motor 422 the cam shaft 464 will undergo one revolution; at the endof which the arm 456, having returned to its normal position, will engage the pawl ifill'and drive it into latching en gagementat 448, which engagement also removes the pawl fromengageinent with the ratchet 4381' The solenoid valve (not shown), which was operatedto one of its positionsby the trigger switch 346 is keyed'to and operated to its other position bythepreviously mentionedcam 510 and switch 512; Thisoperation is carried out'by having the cam 5| 0 provided witha short detent atone point about its periphery into which the operatin -arm of'the switch 5l2' follows just before the clutch 436 steps the camshaft 464; In other words, the solenoid} (not shown); which applies lowering pressure'to theunit 210, is given an impulse to shift its position'iust before-theend of the revolutio-nof the camshaft 4'64.

Itwill lie-understood that while-the clutch 436 disengages itself' automatically after each revolution .of. the/shaft 434, this does not mean that the container I under the action of the revolveing head 410 only goes-through one'revolution. The container I0 may, in fact, go through any predetermined number of revolutions for every revolution of the shaft 434 by a proper selection of sprocket sizes associated with the chain drive 432. If, for example, it is desired to brush the chimes of the container with wheels 22 and 24 for the first revolution of the container and then to spray paint on these chimes for the next two revolutions, the drive 432 can be such that the drum makes three complete revolutions for each revolution of the shaft 434. The remainin cams upon the cam shaft 464, to be described, will then be'cut accordingly to keep associating control devices in operation during'the predetermined portions of the cam shaft 464.

Insofar 'as the spraying of wax, paint, or the like on the surface of the container, it is believed suflicient to explain that the' necessary spraying equipment, such as indicated generally as.2-6 in Figure 1, may be mounted on any suitable portion of the framework of the apparatus and may be moved up and down or may be duplicated to spray any desired section of the drum.

Cams 6H] and M2 with associated control switches 614 and GIS are shown as also keyed to the cam shaft 464, and its units may be duplicated as required to operate spraying apparatus or other devices in'the conventional manner.

The wire brush wheels 22 and 24 are arranged to be out of contact with the container as it is raised into position and be applied to the chimes of the container under the action yet of another cam keyed to the shaft 464. This is the cam designated as 6l8, against the outer periphery of which rides a cam roller 620. The cam roller 620 is in turn mounted on a cam follower arm 622, which is pivoted to the framework of the apparatus in a bearing 624 spaced apart from the lower bearing of the cam shaft 464. The arm 622 is keyed at its upper end to shaft 626, which extends through the bearing 624 and has attached thereto at its lower end an operating arm 628. The operating arm 628 is interconnected by means of a connecting rod 630 to an operating crank 632, which controls the swinging of the wheels 22 and 24 about a shaft 634. The shaft 634 extends between suitable bearings 636 and 638 on the framework of the apparatus. The arrangement of the shaft 634 and the just mentioned bearings may be best understood with reference to Figure 3.

As previously mentioned, the wheels 22 and 24 are mounted for movment on the shaft 634 in the following manner: Support arms 640 and 642 are keyed to the shaft 634 at one of their ends and at their other ends form bearings 644 and 646 in which a brush mounting shaft 648 revolves. The brushes 22 and 24 are keyed to the shaft 648 at such positions that will enable the brushes to engage the upper and lower chimes 10 when the cam follower arm 622 is enabled by reason of the contour of the cam 618 to operate the connecting rod630. The cam BIB is cut in such fashion that the cam follower arm 622 will rotate the shaft 634 to move the wheels 22 and 24 into operating position during a predetermined portion of the cycle vof operation, which is under control of the cam 510.

The wheels 22 and 24 are arrangedto be continuously rotated by drive means obtained from the previously mentioned lower output pulley 426 of the motor 422. The shaft 648 haskeyed to its 8 upper end a pulley 650, this pulley being driven by a belt 652, which is in turn driven bya double groove pulley 654, which runs freely about an extension of the axis of the mounting shaft 1 634. The other groove of the pulley 654 receives a belt '656, which receives its motion from the previously mentioned pulley 426. From the arrangement, as described, it will thus be apparent that as the shaft 634 is pivoted under the action of the cam 618 the position of the pulley 654 on the axis of the shaft 634 will permit the brush wheels 22 and 24 to be swung about the axis of shaft 634 without either of the belts 652 or 656 being changed in length. The continuous drive is therefore provided.

An additional feature of our invention may be the provision of means for spraying the inner surfaces of the upper and lower chimes of the containers. This may be best understood from inspection of Figures 4, 5, and 10. Figures 4 and 5 show a paint or Wax spraying unit or the like H0 mounted upon an upright H2 extending from the platform 2l6. The spraying end of the device H0 is accordingly positioned to be in operative relation to the inside chime of the container when the rollers 222 engage the container as the platform M6 is lifted.

The upper inside spraying operation is carried out by means of spraying or like unit H4 which may be fixedly mounted in any convenient manner to the stationary framework of the apparatus. The spraying end of this unit is positioned to clear the lugs 4| 2 on the rotating head 4), but the diameter of the head 410 is sufficiently less than the-inner diameter of the chime to permit the sprayed material to coat the chime except where the lugs 4l2 interrupt the spray. As a practical matter, the lugs 4| 2 are quite narrow and the unpainted areas may be rapidly touched up by hand.

It is a further additional feature of the invention that the one revolution clutch means 436 may be dispensed with by wiring the motor 422 of the control unit so that it is only intermittently energized. That is, the motor may be started when the container i raised into engagement with the head 4 I 0 and may be automatically stopped when one revolution of the cam shaft 464 is completed. The manner of so connecting the motor 422 will be apparent to those skilled in the art and no detail description is believed necessary here.

The apparatus may be further simplified without departing from the invention by dispensing with the automatic raising means and providing instead means to manually actuate the raising cylinder 210 after a container has been placed by hand in the correct position immediately above the platform 2l6.

From the foregoing description of a preferred embodimentof the invention it will be apparent that we provide a means for rapidly and efficiently processing the sides of cylindrical objects, and particularly in coordination with a conveyor or so-called assembly line.

It is intended to be understood that the above description is made for purposes of illustration only. The'scope of the invention is to be determined from' the appended claims.

This application is related to the copending application of Eugene J. Anderson, Serial No. 201,033, filed December 15, 1950.

We claim: v

1. In conveyor line apparatus for processing cylindric'al'lobjects moving in upright position along the conveyor, head means, lift means located at a predetermined position along the conveyor to remove the objects from the conveyor, trigger means for detecting the presence of containers at said predetermined position and arranged to operate the lift means, means for actuating the lift means to move an object from the conveyor and into engagement with the head means for retaining the object between the said lift and head means with the axis of the object extending in a line therebetween, means for rotating the head means to rotate the object about said axis while it is retained in engagement with the head means by the lift means, and processing means positioned adjacent the peripherial surface of the object when the latter is rotated for performing a processing operation on at least a portion of the surface of the object.

2. In conveyor line operation, means for performing a processing operation on objects moving along the line, said means comprising detector means for detecting the arrival of an object adjacent a predetermined position along the line, trigger means adapted to be enabled by the detector means, the trigger means when enabled being positioned to be operated by the object when it reaches the said predetermined position, lift means actuated by the trigger means for lifting the objects from the line for a processing operation thereon, and linkage means operated by the lift means for resetting the trigger means, whereby at the completion of the processing operation the object when returned to the line will continue to move along the line and the next object on the line will actuate the detector means to enable the trigger means for a following cycle.

3. In conveyor line apparatus for performing processing operations on the cylindrical surfaces of a cylindrical object, conveyor means, means for continuously moving the conveyor means, the cylindrical containers adapted to ride on their ends along the conveyor, stop means for stopping successively each container at a predetermined position along the conveyor, platform means adapted to be elevated to engage the lower end of the container and lift the latter from the conveyor, means to elevate the platform means, trigger means associated with the stop means, means to actuate the platform elevating means energized under the control of the trigger means, rotatable head means, the head means being so located that the upper end of the container engages the head means when the platform means is operated. the platform means being adapted to permit the rotation of the container therein, whereby when the container is engaged with the head means the container will rotate about the axis extended between the head and platform means, means for rotating the head means while the container engages the head means, and a processing device located adjacent the periphery of the container whereby as the container rotates the processing device may operate upon the circumference of the container.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein cam means are provided for detecting the completion of a predetermined number of revolutions of the container for discontinuing the processing operation and for lowering the platform means to permit the container to continue on the conveyor.

5. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the processing device comprises a fluid spray unit.

6. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the processing device comprises an abrasive wheel.

7. In apparatus for removing objects from a conveyor system for performing a processing operation thereon, platform means located adjacent the conveyor at a predetermined position along the conveyor, means to raise the platform to engage the under side of the container to raise the latter above the conveyor line and to subsequently return the container to the conveyor, said means comprising detector means for detecting the approach of a container along the conveyor, stop means normally out of the way of the containers on the conveyor, latch means operated by the detector means for placing the stop means in a position to be engaged by the container, trigger means associated with the stop means and adapted upon engagement with the stop means to energize the platform raising means, linkage means operated by the platform means to replace the stop and trigger means to their latched positions when the platform is raised, whereby when the platform is lowered the container will continue to move along the conveyor and the detector means is ready to initiate a lift operation upon the next container.

8. In automatic apparatus for performing a processing operation upon a cylindrical object, a head member adapted for rotary operation, a platform member, means for actuating the platform member to raise a container for engagement with the said head, the arrangement being such that the container will rotate about an axis extending between the head and the platform, a cam driving means connected for rotation with the head means, a cam shaft, one revolution clutch means for engagement between the cam drive means and the cam shaft, a processing device located adjacent the periphery of the container, a cam on the cam shaft, for controlling the processing device, cam follower means in en gagement with said cam, a second cam on the cam shaft, and cam follower means in engagement with the second cam for lowering the platform after the revolution of the cam shaft.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the processing device comprises an abrasive wheel, and wherein the said one cam on the cam shaft is adapted to move the abrasive wheel into operative relationship with the container for at least a portion of the period during which the container is held between the platform and the head.

10. Apparatus as in claim 7 in which the platform means comprises a plurality of rollers arranged to engage the lower peripheral edge of the container for supporting the latter in an upright position and at the same time permitting rotational movement of the container by the rolling action of the rollers on the peripheral edge.

STANLEY S. JOHNS. WILLIAM FUNK.

REFERENCES CITED The followin references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,700,697 Draper Jan. 29, 1929 2,074,432 Rollings Mar. 23, 1937 2,287,356 Newman June 23, 1942 2,350,569 Reynolds June 6, 1944 2,442,179 Shanklin et al. May 25, 1948 2,519,177 Chenault Aug. 15, 1950 

